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Hallelujah Chorus
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Hallelujah Chorus

work by Handel
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Quick Summary

The "Hallelujah Chorus" is a famous part of George Frideric Handel's oratorio, Messiah. Handel, a German-born English composer, premiered Messiah in Dublin in 1742. The text for Messiah was compiled from the Bible, covering prophecies of the Messiah's birth, the story of Christ's life, death, and resurrection, and themes of Judgment Day.1

The "Hallelujah Chorus" itself appears at the end of the second part of the oratorio. Musically, it blends homophonic harmony with polyphonic complexity and builds into a fugue. The word "hallelujah" is a Hebrew term meaning "praise the Lord" and has been used in religious services since ancient times.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Messiah
  2. hallelujah

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